Improvement in hose-carriages



I. W. MGGAFFEY.

HOSE-CARRIAGE. y

No. 190,231. Patented my 1, 1877.

IVES W. MGGAFFEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOSE-CARRIAGES.

'Specieationforming part of Letters Patent o. 190,23H, dated May 1, 1877; application filed February 24, 1877.

n all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ivins W. MCGAFFEY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Hose-Carriages; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and ex- 'act description of the same, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a front and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my improved carriage, while Fig. 3

is a view, enlarged from the preceding figures,-

of the clamp for holding the hose or nozzle.

1n the drawing, A A are the carryingwheels, which may be of any suitable diameter or construction. B B are the main uprights or longitudinal pieces of the framework, connected to each other bythe crosshandle C, which may be suitably braced and strengthened, as at cc, if necessary. D D are curved extensions of the frame, springing from the main pieces B, in the middle region thereof, and continuing down far enough to form feet or supports, in conjunction with the wheels, to maintain the carriage in an upright position when that is desired. The metal brace-piece E, from the leg D to the piece B, serves to strengthen the frame, and also as a foundation and means of securing the short spindles F upon which the carrying-wheels A turn. Upon the outer face of the curved legs, at thejunction thereof with the other portion of the frame, are secured suitable clamps Gr G, for holding a rigid shaft or rod, H, that extends frorn one side to the other of the frame, and is rigidly fastened at each clamp by a set-screw, h. On this rod or xed shaft is mounted, to turn loosely thereon, the common hose-reel J, provided with acollar, k, and setscrew m, which may be used as a lock to x the reel from turning, in order to poise the nozzle when playing, or as a friction appliance, to prevent the reel from turning too easily.

There being no necessity for a throughgoing axle,`or for an additional brace at the lower part of the frame, by reason of the axis of the reel being rigid, and thus itself' a brace, the entire space within the frame from the handle to the ground is left free for the reel, which may thus be of any diameter within that limit, regardless of the diameter of the carrying-wheels.

It will be noticed that when the apparatus is in the upright position indicated in the drawing, the center of the reel, and consequently the cen ter of gravity, is between the carryingwheels and the feet. By tipping down the handle, the weight may be brought directly overc the wheels, and by tipping it still more the weight will come in part upon the handle.

The apparatus may be used as a portable fountain, the nozzle being secured in the holder, presently to be described, and properly poised, (by means of the thumb-screw at the hub of the reel,) without the necessity or uncoiling more than just enough hose to reach from the hydrant to the-carriage. The hose can be readily taken up, or more paid out, while moving the carriage with one hand and turning the reel with the other.

P is the curved holder, made of malleable metal, of proper shape and size to receive the hose or hose nozzle. This is sufficiently' rigid to sustain the weight of the nozzle or hose, but may be bent with the hand, to conform to the various sizes of nozzles and hose. A spring, Q, made of a flat metal strip of suitable elasticity, is interposed between the holder and the reel-arm, to which the holder and spring are attached by a screw or bolt, r, passing through both into said arm. 'A shoulder, as at s, is formed on the lower end ot' the spring by bending the same up against the malleable holder, so that the spring and holder are kept in just alignment with each other.

Having thus decsribed the construction and operation of my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The hose-carriage, constructed of two side pieces, braced together by the cross-handle and a rigid shaft, which latter serves as a pivot for the reel, and provided with feet or extensions, and with wheels that are journaled upon axles projecting from the side pieces, the reel and parts being relatively arranged and constructed substantially as specified.

` 2. The malleable-metal holder attached to the reel, in combination with the inteposed spring, substantially as specified.

IVES W. MCGAFFEY.

Witnesses EDw. S. EvARTs, Jas. A. CowLEs. 

